Traveling Through Books

Title: Chased by Fire (Cloud Warrior Saga #1) Author: DK Holmberg Publisher: ASH Publishing Read in: Kindle Ebook Genre: YA Fantasy I like the concept of this book. I like the world that it is set in and the way that magic (called shaping or sensing) is closely tied with nature. I like the culture of the world, so far. I like the characters. But the story, while it is entertaining and draws the reader in, is predictable and your standard YA book. In other words, a teen full of angst who feels inadequate finds himself thrust into an adventure full of responsibility and with an exceptional gift he didn't know he had. Falls in love with mysterious girl who lives on the outside of his known world/community. Has a gruff, experienced, wise mentor guiding him through said adventure and teaching him along the way. There is, as of yet, no love triangle; so that is refreshing. The only thing I really did not like about the book is that the main character is kind of an idiot. H...

  Title: Fables: March of the Wooden Soldiers (Fables Volume 4) AND Fables: The Mean Seasons (Fables Volume 5) Author: Bill Willingham Genre: Graphic Novel Publisher: DC Comics Read In: Trade Paperback I love this graphic novel series. If you're unfamiliar, this series is based on the idea that fairy tale, fable, legend, etc. creatures have all been forced out of their homelands into our world by an enemy they call The Adversary. To survive, they have set up two locales within our world. Fabletown is the center of the action, hidden in New York City. This is where the majority of human, or those that can pass as human, Fables live. The Farm is in upstate New York and is where all the non-human or anyone that can't pass as human lives in secret from the outside, human, world. Though I am only through volume 5 of the series, they recently published their last one, ending at 22; so I have quite a few to go. I love this series for several reasons. First is that it...

Title: Manners & Mutiny (Finishing School Series #4) Author: Gail Carriger Read in: Nook ePub Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers Genre: Young Adult Steampunk Urban Fantasy This is the last installment of the Finishing School Series by Gail Carriger. Her Finishing School series is a prequel to the Parasol Protectorate (which if you haven't yet read, do so immediately!) It is also a Young Adult series, where Carriger's other series are for adults. As such the books are less complicated, shorter, and have less mature themes. Since this is the last book, I will not expend much on it. I like the ending, it was perfect for every character and in the true style of a YA book, it was wrapped up quickly (in about two chapters). If you're looking for an easy, entertaining read and like the Victorian era, I suggest you read the series! If you have been reading my blog for long, you are probably aware that I love Gail Carriger; she is my favorite author th...

Books 29, 30, and 31: The Mortal Intruments Series by Cassandra Clare Verdict: Read if you like YA adventure-fantasy-romance. This series consists of three books- at least that I read- "City of Bones", "City of Ashes", and "City of Glass". The series was originally meant to be a trilogy, so I stopped with the 3rd book. The 3rd book wrapped up the plot nicely, so I felt no need to continue further.  Book one, "City of Bones", contains a twist that kept me frustrated for the rest of the series. The twist actually surprised me, a feat that not many YA novels manage to do. It introduces you to the two main characters, Jace and Clary. Clary has lived her life as a normal human teen, that is until she meets Jace. Jace is part of a secret society of protectors. This society has an element of magic- mixed with runes and fighting skills- that they use to protect mankind from demons. Man cannot see demons, but they are there and this societ...